Protection device using net for combat vehicle

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a protective device using a net for a combat vehicle. The protective device includes a rocket bomb removal assembly provided on each of intersection portions of the net. The rocket bomb removal assembly has first intersection support points supporting net strands of the net that are brought into contact with the rocket bomb and are changed into a circular shape when the rocket bomb moves forwards, and second intersection support points supporting the net strands that are brought into contact with the rocket bomb and are changed into a circular shape when the rocket bomb is being moved backwards by the reaction of the net. The diameter of the circle formed by the net strands that are supported on the second intersection support points is greater than that of the circle formed by the net strands that are supported on the first intersection support points.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to protective devices using nets for combat vehicles and, more particularly, to a protective device using a net for a combat vehicle which includes a rocket bomb removal assembly which is provided at intersection portions of the net and configured such that when a rocket bomb gets lodged in the net and moves forwards along with the net, the net strands tightly fit around the circumferential outer surface of the rocket bomb, and when the rocket bomb is moved backwards by reaction of the net, the net strands are loosened from the circumferential outer surface of the rocket bomb so that the rocket bomb can be easily removed from the net.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, protective devices for combat vehicles cover the combat vehicles to protect them against the attack of antitank rockets, e.g., when ambushed or sudden attacked by enemies. Bar armor and net armor technologies are widely used to embody such a protective device, which were developed for the purpose of preventing the warhead of a rocket bomb from striking a combat vehicle based on the fact that upon a warhead provided on a front end of a rocket bomb striking a combat vehicle a detonator is operated by the impact so that gunpowder explodes.

A net armor type protective device for a combat vehicle is formed in a net shape and is made of carbon fiber which is comparatively light and has high tensile strength. Compared to a bar armor type protective device in which metal bars are disposed at regular intervals, the net armor type protective device is advantageous in that it is light and provides a wide field of vision to the crew in the combat vehicle.

The net armor type protective device which is much lighter than the bar armor type can reduce the total weight of the vehicle, thus reducing the burden on a drive system of the vehicle, and improving the fuel efficiency. Moreover, the protective performance of the net armor type protective device is 75% which is superior to that of the bar armor type which is 50%.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional net armor type protective device for a combat vehicle. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a process of making a rocket bomb useless. The conventional net armor type protective device for a combat vehicle includes a net 10 which is made of carbon fiber, a frame 102 which keeps the net taut, and support rods 103 which mount the frame 102 to the combat vehicle with a predetermined distance defined between the frame 102 and the surface of the combat vehicle.

When a rocket bomb flies at the combat vehicle in a rocket attack by the enemy, a conical front part of the rocket bomb is caught by the net 10 so that the warhead of the rocket bomb cannot collide with the surface of the combat vehicle, thus preventing the rocket bomb from exploding. In addition, upon the conical part of the rocket bomb being caught by the net 10 an electric device in the rocket bomb is shorted by bending deflection, whereby a fuse cannot be normally operated, causing the bomb to misfire.

However, in the basic structure of a conventional protective device using the net 10, the net 10 merely catches the conical part of a rocket bomb. Therefore, the rocket bomb that has been caught by the net 10 may remain in the caught state rather than being removed from the net 10. In this case, there is the possibility of an intense shock being applied to the rocket bomb that has been caught by the net 10 when the combat vehicle is moving, thus causing the rocket bomb to explode. In other words, because there is a danger that the rocket bomb that has been caught by the net 10 may unexpectedly explode, safety is not ensured. Hence, safety countermeasures are also urgently required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a protective device using a net for a combat vehicle which is configured such that a rocket bomb that has been launched from a rocket launcher of an enemy and caught by the net is easily removed from the net, rather than remaining in the net, when the rocket bomb is moved backwards by the reaction of the net, thus providing safety from the danger of explosion of the rocket bomb.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a protective device using a net as means for protecting a combat vehicle from a rocket bomb, the protective device including a rocket bomb removal assembly provided on each of intersection portions of the net, the rocket bomb removal assembly having first intersection support points supporting net strands of the net that are brought into close contact with a circumferential outer surface of the rocket bomb and are changed into a shape of a circle when the rocket bomb moves forwards after having been caught by the net, and second intersection support points supporting the net strands that are brought into close contact with the circumferential outer surface of the rocket bomb and are changed into a shape of a circle when the rocket bomb is moved backwards by a reaction of the net, wherein a diameter of the circle formed by the net strands that are supported on the second intersection support points and have changed in shape is greater than a diameter of the circle formed by the net strands that are supported on the first intersection support points and have changed in shape.

The rocket bomb removal assembly may include: a removal body disposed outside the net, the removal body having support parts extending predetermined lengths in directions in which the corresponding net strands of the intersection portion extend, each of the support parts having a support depression into which the corresponding net strand of the intersection portion of the net is inserted, so that the support parts support the corresponding net strands at the outside of the net; and a removal cover disposed inside the net and coupled to the removal body, the removal cover covering the intersection portion of the net such that the net strands that are disposed in the support depressions of the removal body are exposed, wherein the first intersection support points are formed on distal ends of the respective support parts of the removal body, and the second intersection support points are formed at respective beginnings of portions of the net strands exposed outside the removal cover.

The rocket bomb removal assembly may include: a removal body disposed outside the net, the removal body having support depressions extending predetermined lengths in directions in which the corresponding net strands of the intersection portion extend, so that the net strands of the intersection portion are inserted into the respective support depressions such that the removal body supports the net strands at the outside of the net, with an inclined surface formed on a circumferential outer surface of the removal body, the inclined surface being reduced in diameter with respect to a direction in which the rocket bomb moves forwards; and a removal cover disposed inside the net and coupled to the removal body, the removal cover covering the intersection portion of the net such that the net strands that are disposed in the support depressions of the removal body are exposed outside, wherein the first intersection support points are formed at respective junctions between ends of the support depressions and the inclined surface, and the second intersection support points are formed at respective beginnings of portions of the net strands exposed outside the removal cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional protective device using a net for a combat vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the installation of the conventional protective device;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views illustrating the installation of a first embodiment of a rocket bomb removal assembly of a protective device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are views showing the operation of the rocket bomb removal assembly of the protective device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged front view of the net that shows first and second intersection support points of the rocket bomb removal assembly of the protective device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating the installation of a second embodiment of the rocket bomb removal assembly of the protective device according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 7A through 7C are views showing the operation of the rocket bomb removal assembly of FIGS. 6A and 6B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a protective device using a net for a combat vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the protective device basically includes a net 10 which protects the combat vehicle from a rocket bomb, a frame 102 which keeps the net 10 taut, and support rods 103 which mount the frame 102 to the combat vehicle with a predetermined distance defined between the frame 102 and the surface of the combat vehicle.

In the protective device having the above-mentioned basic construction, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the present invention further includes a rocket bomb removal assembly 70 which is provided on each of intersection portions 12 of the net 10.

The rocket bomb removal assembly 70 has first intersection support points 13 a which support, on the intersection portion 12, net strands 11 that are brought into close contact with the circumferential outer surface of the rocket bomb so that their shape changes into the shape of a circle when the rocket bomb is moving forwards after having been caught by the net 10, and second intersection support points 13 b which support, on the intersection portion 12, the net strands 11 that are in close contact with the circumferential outer surface of the rocket bomb and whose shape changes into that of a circle when the rocket bomb is being moved backwards by the reaction of the net 10. The diameter of the circle formed by the net strands 11 that are supported on the second intersection support points 13 b and have changed in shape is greater than that of the circle formed by the net strands 11 that are supported on the first intersection support points 13 a and have changed in shape.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a first embodiment of the rocket bomb removal assembly 70. The rocket bomb removal assembly 70 of this embodiment includes a removal body 71 which is disposed outside the net 10, and a removal cover 72 which is disposed inside the net 10 and coupled to the removal body 71. The intersection portion 12 of the net 10 is interposed between the removal body 71 and the removal cover 72.

The removal body 71 includes support parts 73 which extend predetermined lengths in directions in which the corresponding net strands 11 of the intersection portion extend. Each support part 73 has a support depression 73 a into which the corresponding net strand 11 of the intersection portion 12 of the net 10 is inserted, so that the support parts 73 can support the intersection portion 12 at the outside of the net 10. The removal cover 72 is disposed inside the intersection portion 12 and coupled to the removal body 71 to cover the intersection portion 12 of the net 10 such that the net strands 11 that are inserted into the support depressions 73 a are exposed to the outside. The first intersection support points 13 a are formed on distal ends of the respective support parts 73 of the removal body 71. The second intersection support points 13 b are formed at the respective beginnings of the portions of the net strands 11 exposed outside the removal cover 72.

In the first embodiment of the rocket bomb removal assembly 70, although the coupling of the removal cover 72 to the removal body 71 has been illustrated as being embodied by a configuration wherein a plurality of coupling holes 71 a are formed in the removal body 71 and a plurality of coupling protrusions 72 a are provided on the removal cover 72 so that the coupling protrusions 72 a are forcibly fitted into the respective coupling holes 71 a, the present invention is not limited to this. Any type of coupling structure can be used so long as the removal cover 72 can be coupled to the removal body 71. The outer shape of the removal body 71 is a conical shape so that when the removal body 71 is put into contact with the rocket bomb, it causes the rocket bomb to slip therefrom, thus preventing a collision between the removal body 71 and the rocket bomb from causing the rocket bomb to explode.

With regard to the rocket bomb removal assembly 70 having the above-mentioned construction, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the rocket bomb enters the net 10, the conical part of the rocket bomb is caught by the net 10, and the net 10 is bent in the direction in which the rocket bomb moves, as shown in FIG. 4B. At this time, the circumferential outer surface of the conical part of the rocket bomb comes into close contact with the net strands 11 so that the shape of the net strands 11 is changed into a circular shape corresponding to the circumferential shape of the conical part of the rocket bomb, wherein as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5, the change in shape of the net strands 11 is based on the first intersection support points 13 a that are formed on the distal ends of the support parts 73 which are disposed outside the net 10 and support the net strands 11.

When the rocket bomb that has been caught by the net 10 is moved backwards by the reaction of the net 10, as shown in FIG. 4C, the net 10 is also bent in the direction in which the rocket bomb moves backwards. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 5, because the net strands 11 move away from the support depressions 73 a of the support part 73, the change in shape of the net 10 is based on the second intersection support points 13 b that are formed at the beginnings of the portions of the net strands 11 exposed outside the removal cover 720 which is disposed inside the net 10 and grasps the net strands 11.

Thus, a diameter D2 of the circle defined by the net strands 11 that are being changed in shape and supported at the second intersection support points 13 b is greater than a diameter D1 of the circle defined by the net strands 11 that are being changed in shape and supported at the first intersection support points 13 a. Therefore, when the rocket bomb enters the net 10, the conical part of the rocket bomb is tightly caught by the net strands 11 that are forming the circle that is based on the first intersection support point 13 a and have a comparatively small diameter D1. When the rocket bomb is moved backwards by the reaction of the net 10, the circle defined by the net strands 11 is based on the second intersection support points 13 b so that the diameter of the circle is extended to the diameter D2. As a result, the rocket bomb can smoothly come out of the net 10 and be easily removed therefrom.

As such, in the present invention, the rocket bomb removal assemblies 70 can make it easy for the rocket bomb to be removed from the net 10, thus avoiding a problem of the rocket bomb, still having the possibility of exploding, remaining in the net 10 rather than being removed from the net 10.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating the construction and installation of a second embodiment of the rocket bomb removal assembly. The rocket bomb removal assembly 700 of this embodiment includes a removal body 710 which is disposed outside the net 10, and a removal cover 720 which is disposed inside the net 10 and coupled to the removal body 710 with the intersection portion 12 of the net 10 interposed therebetween.

The removal body 710 has support depressions 711 which extend predetermined lengths in directions in which the corresponding net strands 11 of the intersection portion extend. The net strands 11 of the corresponding intersection portion 12 of the net 10 are inserted into the respective support depressions 711 such that the removal body 710 supports the intersection portion 12 at the outside of the net 10. The removal body 710 has, on a circumferential outer surface thereof, an inclined surface 712 which is gradually reduced in diameter with respect to the direction in which the rocket bomb moves forwards.

The removal cover 720 is disposed inside the intersection portion 12 and coupled to the removal body 710 to cover the intersection portion 12 of the net 10 such that the net strands 11 that are inserted into the support depressions 711 are exposed to the outside. Therefore, the first intersection support points 13 a are formed at respective junctions between ends of the support depressions 711 and the inclined surface 712, and the second intersection support points 13 b are formed at respective beginnings of portions of the net strands exposed outside the removal cover 720.

In the second embodiment of the rocket bomb removal assembly 70, the coupling of the removal cover 720 to the removal body 710 has been illustrated as being embodied by a configuration wherein a plurality of coupling holes 713 are formed in the removal body 710 and a plurality of coupling protrusions 721 are provided on the removal cover 720 so that the coupling protrusions 721 are forcibly fitted into the respective coupling holes 713, the present invention is not limited to this. Any coupling structure can be used so long as the removal cover 720 can be coupled to the removal body 710. The overall shape of the removal body 710 is a conical shape so that when the removal body 710 is put into contact with the rocket bomb, it causes the rocket bomb to slip therefrom, thus preventing the rocket bomb from colliding with the removal body 710 and exploding.

In the rocket bomb removal assembly 700 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the rocket bomb enters the net 10, the conical part of the rocket bomb is caught by the net 10, and the net 10 is bent in the direction in which the rocket bomb moves, as shown in FIG. 7B. At this time, the circumferential outer surface of the conical part of the rocket bomb comes into close contact with the net strands 11 so that the shape of the net strands 11 is changed into a circular shape corresponding to the circumferential shape of the conical part of the rocket bomb, wherein as shown in FIG. 7B, the change in shape of the net strands 11 is based on the first intersection support points 13 a that are formed on the inclined surface 712 of the removal body 710 which is disposed outside the net 10 and supports the net strands 11.

When the rocket bomb that has been caught by the net 10 is moved backwards by the reaction of the net 10, as shown in FIG. 7C, the net 10 is also bent in the direction in which the rocket bomb moves backwards. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7C, because the net strands 11 move away from the support depressions 711 of the removal body 710, the change in shape of the net 10 is based on the second intersection support points 13 b that are formed at the beginnings of the portions of the net strands 11 exposed outside the removal cover 720 which is disposed inside the net 10 and grasps the net strands 11.

Thus, a diameter (D2, refer to FIG. 5) of the circle defined by the net strands 11 that are being changed in shape and supported at the second intersection support points 13 b is greater than a diameter (D1, refer to FIG. 5) of the circle defined by the net strands 11 that are being changed in shape and supported at the first intersection support points 13 a. Therefore, when the rocket bomb enters the net 10, the conical part of the rocket bomb is tightly caught by the net strands 11 that form the circle that is based on the first intersection support point 13 a and has a comparatively small diameter D1. When the rocket bomb is moved backwards by the reaction of the net 10, the circle defined by the net strands 11 is based on the second intersection support points 13 b so that the diameter of the circle is increased to the diameter D2. As a result, the rocket bomb can smoothly come out of the net 10, thus being easily removed therefrom.

As such, the second embodiment of the rocket bomb removal assembly 700 can also make it easy for the rocket bomb to be removed from the net 10, thus avoiding a problem in which there is the possibility of the rocket bomb exploding when it remains in the net 10 rather than being removed from the net 10.

As described above, in a protective device using a net for a combat vehicle, rocket bomb removal assemblies are installed on respective intersection portions of the net. The rocket bomb removal assemblies make it easy for the rocket bomb to be easily removed from the net when the rocket bomb that has been launched from a rocket launcher and has gotten lodged in the net is moved backwards by the reaction of the net, thus ensuring the safety from a danger that the rocket bomb may unexpectedly explode if it were to remain in the net.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A protective device using a net as means for protecting a combat vehicle from a rocket bomb, the protective device comprising a rocket bomb removal assembly provided on each of intersection portions of the net, the rocket bomb removal assembly having first intersection support points supporting net strands of the net that are brought into close contact with a circumferential outer surface of the rocket bomb and are changed into a shape of a circle when the rocket bomb moves forwards after having been caught by the net, and second intersection support points supporting the net strands that are brought into close contact with the circumferential outer surface of the rocket bomb and are changed into a shape of a circle when the rocket bomb is moved backwards by a reaction of the net, wherein a diameter of the circle formed by the net strands that are supported on the second intersection support points and have changed in shape is greater than a diameter of the circle formed by the net strands that are supported on the first intersection support points and have changed in shape.
 2. The protective device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rocket bomb removal assembly comprises: a removal body disposed outside the net, the removal body comprising support parts extending predetermined lengths in directions in which the corresponding net strands of the intersection portion extend, each of the support parts having a support depression into which the corresponding net strand of the intersection portion of the net is inserted, so that the support parts support the corresponding net strands at the outside of the net; and a removal cover disposed inside the net and coupled to the removal body, the removal cover covering the intersection portion of the net such that the net strands that are disposed in the support depressions of the removal body are exposed, wherein the first intersection support points are formed on distal ends of the respective support parts of the removal body, and the second intersection support points are formed at respective beginnings of portions of the net strands exposed outside the removal cover.
 3. The protective device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rocket bomb removal assembly comprises: a removal body disposed outside the net, the removal body having support depressions extending predetermined lengths in directions in which the corresponding net strands of the intersection portion extend, so that the net strands of the intersection portion are inserted into the respective support depressions such that the removal body supports the net strands at the outside of the net, with an inclined surface formed on a circumferential outer surface of the removal body, the inclined surface being reduced in diameter with respect to a direction in which the rocket bomb moves forwards; and a removal cover disposed inside the net and coupled to the removal body, the removal cover covering the intersection portion of the net such that the net strands that are disposed in the support depressions of the removal body are exposed outside, wherein the first intersection support points are formed at respective junctions between ends of the support depressions and the inclined surface, and the second intersection support points are formed at respective beginnings of portions of the net strands exposed outside the removal cover. 